US farmers are increasingly rejecting multimillion-dollar offers from data center developers; some estimate ~40K acres are needed globally for new AI projects

US farmers are rejecting multimillion-dollar datacenter bids for their land, emphasizing the cultural and emotional value of their properties over financial gain. The article highlights the conflict between tech companies' need for land to power AI and the farmers' deep-rooted connection to their land. Despite offers that far exceed the land's market value, many farmers refuse to sell, citing personal and historical ties to their land as well as concerns about the environmental impact of datacenters.